Chapter 21

"Oh, don't mention it! My dad owns the electronics repair shop, after all. And I was the one who insisted you come here," Priya said with a smile as I ended a call with Ayor.

I'd never heard Ayor sound so broken, not since she was forced into her family's shady dealings. My grip tightened around my phone. I knew Priya had noticed the change in my expression.

"Sorry, something urgent came up. I have to go. See you tomorrow at university," I said, hugging her before leaving.

Her dad had repaired my phone for half the price. Of course, he didn't want to take the money, but I insisted. Running through alleyways, I headed toward the bus station. It would take me an hour and a half to reach the hotel. Luckily, it was Thursday, and I didn't have any part-time work today.

I was almost hit by an ice cream truck, which swerved and crashed into a light pole to avoid me. The screech of its tires was deafening, smoke billowing from them. Panicked, I ran toward the vehicle, worried about the driver's condition.

The back door of the truck swung open, and a man stumbled out, coughing violently. He was holding a small child, probably no older than six months. I froze in place as he pulled out a gun and aimed it at me.

"Don't come any closer," he yelled, blood dripping from his forehead.

I nodded, raising my hands. I wasn't planning to put the baby's life at risk. Maybe the man's nerves were frayed from fear.

I glanced inside the truck and spotted a woman tied up. My eyes scanned the man's injuries, noticing his limp as he tried to move with the crying baby.

'Teal, you have to do something. You'll regret it forever if anything happens to that child,' I thought.

From a distance, I heard someone calling the police. The man panicked, firing his gun randomly into the air. People screamed and dropped to the ground. Taking advantage of the chaos, I kicked his injured leg, causing him to stumble.

The baby nearly fell, but I caught him just in time. I didn't even notice the scratch on my arm as a towering figure blocked the sunlight above me.

"Yes, Mr. Edward. We've found Abain. He's with a girl who saved him," the man said, speaking into a headset.

I looked up, startled by the muscular man. He looked like a high-ranking gangster—his dark sunglasses obscured his eyes, and his glowing earpiece added to his intimidating presence.

"Wait. I can't just hand over the child to you. What if you're one of the kidnappers? Sorry, but the baby's safety comes first. I'll take him to the hospital," I said firmly, scanning for a way to escape this human wall.

The man gave me a disgusted look before muttering into his earpiece, "Sir, she's refusing to give us the child."

I grabbed his headset and shouted, "I don't care who you are, but if this child doesn't get medical attention, his life will be at risk! You can do whatever you want with me, but let me save him first!"

I threw the headset back at the man, who caught it effortlessly. Thankfully, an ambulance arrived, accompanied by several police cars.

... 

"Sir, she's a crazy girl. Should we accompany her?"

The man's voice reached me a bit too late as I watched the doctor take the baby away. "Don't worry, little one. I'm here with you," I whispered softly, watching his tiny chest rise and fall as he struggled to breathe.

My phone rang—it was Ayor. I couldn't answer her, though. All that mattered now was this child's life. I couldn't bear the thought of him losing his life because of me. I'd already lost my younger brother in a similar way, and I wasn't going to let the past repeat itself.

---

I sat outside the operating room, watching as the hallway filled with men in black suits and expensive attire. A young woman ran in, falling to her knees near the door.

"Where's my baby, Abain? Is he okay?" she cried.

I approached her and asked, "Who are you?"

She stood, revealing her disheveled blonde hair, blue eyes swollen from crying, and flushed cheeks.

"I'm his mother! Tell me where my son, Abain, is!"

Her tears streamed down her face as her voice cracked with desperation. I pointed toward the room at the end of the hallway.

"He's in there. Don't worry, he's safe. The girl who saved him was injured badly, though. She's the one in surgery—"

Before I could finish, she bolted toward the room, followed by the horde of bodyguards in black.

"All those guards, and they still couldn't protect a baby? Impressive," I muttered, hearing the rhythmic sound of approaching footsteps.

I turned to see a tall man with sharp features and a hairstyle that added to his allure.

"Edward Apex. I appreciate your insistence on getting Abain here safely," he said, his tone calm yet commanding.

The towering, muscular man from earlier stood behind him. So this was his master—Apex. Were they connected to Alexander's family? If so, that meant Alexander was here. The thought of him being nearby sent a fluttering sensation through me, like butterflies taking flight.

But the moment was interrupted.

"Mr. Alexander Apex, do you believe the kidnapping of your nephew was orchestrated? Could it be tied to the pressure to halt your current project?"

A journalist's persistent questioning was cut short as Alexander's men held him back, along with the other reporters.

"Tell us, Mr. Alexander Apex, who do you think is behind this incident?"

He walked past me as if I didn't exist, not even sparing me a glance. Oh, right—we couldn't let anyone know about our relationship, or our marriage for that matter.

A forced, bitter smile crossed my lips as I watched him head toward the room where Abain was.

My phone buzzed with another call from Ayor. I ignored Edward's piercing gaze and hurried toward the elevator. Strangely, the elevator door wouldn't close.